Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce the expansion of its Orange County office with the addition of Michael J. Baker as a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation group. Baker comes to Snell & Wilmer from Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo.

“We continually look for gifted lawyers and strategic growth opportunities that enhance our ability to serve our clients,” said Bill O’Hare, Administrative Partner of Snell & Wilmer’s Orange County office. “Mike is a proven litigator and trusted advisor with an outstanding reputation in the legal and business community. His addition to the firm further strengthens the commercial and construction litigation services we offer in Southern California. We are pleased to welcome Mike to our firm.” (more…)

DLA Piper announced today that Brian Wheeler has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate practice in Northern California working in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco offices.

Wheeler focuses on mergers and acquisitions for both public and private companies as well as joint ventures, strategic alliances and corporate governance. He has extensive experience in cross-border transactions and has worked in Tokyo and London for more than a decade. Wheeler has worked on international transactions and matters for clients across a wide array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications, energy and financial services, as well as a particularly strong focus on the technology sector. (more…)

Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Jessica Stebbins Bina has joined the firm in Century City as a partner in the Litigation Department. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation for an array of clients, including many in the entertainment and media industry. She is known as a skilled strategist, writer and trial lawyer.

Stebbins Bina has handled a range of litigation matters at every level of state and federal courts in the United States. She has been trial counsel for multiple matters tried to a favorable jury verdict, as well as appellate counsel for cases in which she has both written the appellate briefs and argued the appeals in state and federal courts. Stebbins Bina has principally authored at least two dozen appellate briefs, argued more than 100 substantive motions, and run numerous litigation and trial teams. In addition to the broad spectrum of media clients she has represented, Stebbins Bina has also worked with clients in the aerospace, energy, manufacturing, and hospitality and commercial development sectors. (more…)

“I am excited to become a partner at a firm that has a fresh and unconventional approach to its practice. Rimon has played a pivotal role in reinventing the modern law firm, and its model is one that will appeal to both peers and clients. I look forward to expanding my practice at Rimon,” said Ms. Berliner.

Rimon, which has 14 offices internationally, has twice been recognized by the Financial Times as one of the most innovative law firms. Rimon’s Managing Partners were both named “Legal Rebels” by the American Bar Association’s ABA Journal. Rimon offers full service teams of highly-experienced attorneys handling corporate, litigation, intellectual property, tax and private client work. (more…)

The law firm WilmerHale today announced the arrival of Partner James Hill to its Los Angeles office. Dr. Hill, who earned his MD from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, joins the firm in the Intellectual Property Department and will also be a member of the IP Litigation and Life Sciences Practices.

“We are thrilled to welcome James to the firm,” said Randall R. Lee, partner-in-charge of WilmerHale’s Los Angeles office. “James’ expertise in intellectual property—one of the firm’s core strengths—will be of tremendous value as we continue to grow our Los Angeles office, and will enhance our IP capabilities nationwide.” (more…)

Alston & Bird has strengthened its patent prosecution capabilities with the addition of Ardeshir Tabibi as partner in the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

“Ardeshir is a distinguished lawyer with deep technical expertise and a wealth of experience assisting clients in expanding and capturing the real value of their patent portfolios,” said Jason Cooper, Alston & Bird partner and co-head of its Intellectual Property Practice. “He knows what it takes to strategically build and leverage a patent portfolio, in the United States and around the world, and will be a tremendous asset to clients in helping them develop and execute patent strategies that align with their business objectives and reflect a clear understanding of market opportunities and threats.” (more…)

Jenner & Block LLP is pleased to announce that corporate finance lawyer Neil Cummings has joined the firm as a partner in its Los Angeles office. With more than 20 years of experience representing a range of market participants, Mr. Cummings will add depth to the firm’s growing strength in corporate finance and increase the Los Angeles office’s transactional capabilities. He will be a member of the Corporate and Corporate Finance Practices. (more…)

Dentons announced today that Maria Sendra has joined its Corporate practice as a partner in Palo Alto, enhancing the Firm’s already robust ability to provide complex securities, mergers and acquisitions and foreign markets transactional work to clients from its Silicon Valley platform.

Reed Smith LLP today announced that Susan Alker, a former partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office from 2007 to 2013, has re-joined its Financial Industry Group as a partner in San Francisco. For the past two years, Alker was a partner in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices of Winston & Strawn LLP, and was firmwide chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative.

“We are delighted to welcome Susan back as a key member of our financial services transactional team,” said Tamara Box, Global Chair of Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group. “In the past two years, we have added a number of attorneys in our Financial Industry Group in California, and her return continues our growth and strength in this area on the West Coast.” (more…)

Financial Services leader Dechert LLP announced today it has expanded its SEC regulatory and funds practice with the addition of Mark D. Perlow as a partner. He joins the firm from another international law firm, where he concentrated his practice on investment management and securities law.

“Mark’s addition signals our commitment to our asset management and private funds practice on the West Coast,” said Robert W. Helm, a leader of Dechert’s global Financial Services Practice. “He brings significant experience to our team, joining a large number of Securities and Exchange Commission alumni already practicing at the firm. We are delighted to welcome him to the partnership.” (more…)

Farella Braun + Martel LLP is pleased to welcome Tony Vecino as a partner to its Family Wealth Group.

“We are delighted to welcome Tony to our growing team of family wealth and exempt organizations attorneys,” said Lara Gilman, chair of Farella’s Family Wealth Group. “His depth of experience in advising high-net-worth individuals and families and knowledge of tax law and the laws of business entities complements and deepens the services we provide to our clients. Tony is a terrific addition to our practice and further cements our reputation as one of the top family wealth practices in the Bay Area.” (more…)

This week, international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP added Joshua H. Walker as a shareholder in the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice. Walker was previously the leader of Simpson Thacher’s IP Transactions Group in Palo Alto, and will now be practicing in Greenberg Traurig’s Silicon Valley and Austin offices.

“Josh’s addition to Greenberg Traurig is a true embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit so strongly encouraged at the firm,” said Chuck Birenbaum, chair of the firm’s offices in Northern California. “He is one of the first lateral hires recruited via Facebook messenger, where Josh reached out to Ian Ballon directly to learn more about the firm’s atmosphere and what it’s like to split time between two offices.” (more…)